Applications:
Medical applications for passive, non-invasive radiometric sensing of tissue and fluid temperature offer exciting possibilities. A core focus of MMS®’ innovative microwave technology is to achieve greater control in temperature management, both in heating and in cooling.
Perinatal asphyxia, or more appropriately, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (“HIE”), is a serious medical issue, occurring in three-to-five out of every 1,000 term newborns. About half of the babies with HIE will die, or suffer severe lifelong handicaps, such as cerebral palsy or mental retardation. Recent research has shown the important potential of therapeutic whole-body hypothermia for infants presenting with HIE, and such research could realize a marked reduction in neonatal patient trauma and adverse outcomes. MMS®, in collaboration with Eastern Virginia Medical School’s Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters, in Norfolk, VA, has made significant progress in the development of a non-invasive, actual brain temperature monitor for use in the treatment of HIE. The procedure is a neuroprotective strategy, and involves maintaining the neonate’s brain at a reduced temperature for a period of three days, resulting in a significantly reduced demand for oxygen. This “quiet period” may greatly lessen the results of HIE, and assist the brain in a healing process.
Neonatal brain temperature monitoring is conventionally achieved with a rectal probe, resulting in a significant difference between rectal and brain temperature -- or with an invasive probe in the skull. MMS®’ system, now in clinical review in Norfolk, VA, was presented in May, 2011 at the Pediatric Academic Society Conference (PAS/ASPR Joint Congress) in Denver, CO USA. The system employs passive and non-invasive microwave radiometric sensing to simultaneously provide real time measurement of actual brain temperature, as well as maintenance of a stable, induced hypothermia.
MMS®’ goal is to create a first-of-its-kind radiometric sensing system to passively and non-invasively measure target tissue or organs not only in neonates, but in all patients with temperature management consequences.
For further information, please contact info@mms-llc.com